Chapter 182: THORN 00

It had been a few days since we’d found out Lucifer would be paying us a visit, and in that time, Paige’s moods had been depleting. My gaze didn’t stray from her as she sat reading on the couch with papers scattered around her. They were appeals from the people in the community. I’d told her we could all go through them, but she’d said she needed a distraction.

I understood she’d cared for her hellhound deeply, but I hadn’t understood how strong their connection had been. Even though she had her emotions locked, there was still a tiny amount of heartache that seeped through. I hated to see her sad, but there wasn’t a thing I could do. Maybe Asher and I had been right when we’d discussed Ezra being more than just a hellhound. The way he’d been with Paige was different from any other hellhound we’d previously encountered. Usually they were crazed beasts doing their master’s bidding by destroying or killing. Ezra had expressions, had character, and I was pretty damn sure he’d had a soul.

He’d been different.

I glanced over Paige’s head to see Asher at the desk going through his own work, but his attention was on Paige. He was worried about her as much as I was.

There was an abrupt knock on the door before it opened and Nate strode in, leaving the door ajar for two women—one a ghoul, the other human—and a shifter male to roll in trays of refreshments. Alex entered after them. Paige looked up as they bowed. “My queen.”

She offered them a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She saved those for us when we were all alone, but it also seemed we were the only ones who got her to fully smile, as well as her family.

“Thank you,” she said.

Asher stood and came around the desk. It was bad timing because he got close to one of the women and she smiled up at him with adoration while moving around the cart and happened to brush against him.

Power filled the room. I snapped my eyes to Paige as she jumped up, crouching on the couch. Her eyes changed, her claws grew, and a snarl dripped from between her lips. “Mine.”

Her hands went to the back of the couch, and I could read her purpose—she was about to attack the woman. I flew out of my chair just as Nate raced at Paige. We circled her, holding her, yet with her power, she managed to take a few steps toward the screaming woman.

“Alex, get them out,” Nate yelled. Alex’s eyes bled to purple, and more power filled the room. A bubble popped up around the women and man, and slowly they floated out of the room. Asher flashed in front of Paige while Alex followed the floating people out.

“Clear their minds,” Nate called.

“I know,” Alex snapped.

Asher took the struggling Paige’s face in his hands and forced her gaze to latch on to his glowing green vampire eyes.

“Paige, my love. Focus on me.” His voice threaded softly through the room. He ignored her growls and leaned in to press his lips against the corner of her mouth but moved back quickly to avoid her sharp teeth.

“She needs to feed,” I told them.

“She was about to eat,” Nate said.

“No. She needs flesh. Fucking hell, I should have known earlier.”

“Not your fault. Too much has been happening,” Asher said.

“We need to clear her mind enough to get her into the kitchens,” I ordered.

“Why can’t we just call up for food?” Nate asked.

Asher shook his head. “It’s the easy way out. She will hate what’s happened, even feel weak and worthless for it. She needs to see how strong she can be. All she needs is a distraction to bring her back to us.” With that said, he stuck his hand into her pants. Her growls paused. She hissed and then froze. Slowly her power eased, her claws retracting, as did her teeth. Lastly, her eyes swirled back to dark blue.

Nate snorted. He released his hold to cross his arms over his chest and seemed annoyed, but I noticed his eyes hadn’t moved away from Asher’s fingers teasing her under her clothes.

“Asher,” she moaned.

“There you are, my love.” He withdrew his fingers. She whimpered in protest before her face burned with the realization of her actions.

“I would have killed her,” she whispered.

“Let’s get you some food,” I said and started to lead her to the door. When I glanced back, I caught Asher licking his fingers. Nate watched him, his eyes darker than usual.

“We’ll catch up,” Asher said. “I’m hungry myself, and Alex should be in soon.”

The door opened and Alex stepped through. Paige wasn’t fully with it, or she would have wanted to stay around to watch Asher feed. However, she kept my pace to the door, mumbling about being the worst queen ever.

Alex looked at us with concern. “I’ve got her,” I reassured him. “Meet us in the kitchens.”

He gave me a sad smile and nodded. As he started to shut the door after us, I heard, “You feed off me,” Nate stated. “Not him today.”

My lips tipped up. Nate was certainly more possessive of Alex since his wolf had claimed him—something Paige didn’t know about yet. But Asher and I could read the signs clearly the day after it had happened.

I curled my arm tighter around Paige’s waist as we made our way down the stairs. She grumbled under her breath some more.

“It’s not your fault, Paige,” I whispered into her ear.

She huffed. “I would have killed her, Thorn.”

“We had you, sweetheart.”

She nodded. Yet, since she’d opened her emotions probably unintentionally from her hunger, I could still feel her disgust and fear.

“We just need to make sure you feed more regularly.” If anything, I felt guilty for not seeing it sooner. Our queen was starved, but she hadn’t realized it.

“Just… hold me tighter. I wish the others had come as well.”

“You don’t trust I can handle you?” I teased, not letting my pride be wounded as I knew she was still scared.

“That’s not it—”

I kissed her temple. “I know, sweetheart,” I told her as we entered the deserted kitchens. The thing was, I knew she would hold herself together because of her people that lingered in the halls as we made our way to the kitchens. She hungered, but she forced it down, knowing her pains would settle shortly. “See, you made it. You’re strong, Paige.”